Ganesh Chaturthi, one of the most significant Hindu festivals, is celebrated with great enthusiasm across India and by the global Hindu community. This ten-day festival marks the birth of Lord Ganesha, the elephant-headed deity revered for his wisdom, prosperity, and the ability to remove obstacles.
Devotees bring home small idols of Lord Ganesha and worship them for ten days, though many choose to celebrate for shorter durations, like five or three days. The festival is associated with Lord Ganesha’s birth, and the festivities are particularly vibrant in states like Maharashtra, Karnataka, and Tamil Nadu.
This year, Ganesh Chaturthi falls on September 7, 2024, commencing the ten-day celebration. The festival begins on the Chaturthi tithi of Shukla Paksha, the bright fortnight of the Hindu lunar calendar. The Ganesh Visarjan, the immersion of the idols in water, will take place on September 17, 2024.
The auspicious time for the Ganesh Chaturthi puja this year is between 11:03 am and 1:34 pm.
Known also as Vinayaka Chaturthi or Ganesh Utsav, the festival is a time for devotees to seek divine intervention and guidance in overcoming life’s challenges. Lord Ganesha is often called ‘Vignaharta’, meaning the remover of obstacles, making him a particularly beloved deity for those seeking blessings and protection.
The origins of Ganesh Chaturthi are deeply rooted in Hindu mythology. According to the Puranas, the fourth day of the month in the Hindu calendar Saka Samwat is known as Chaturthi, the day dedicated to Lord Ganesha. It is believed that Ganesha was born on the Chaturthi of the bright night of Bhadra (August-September).
While Ganesh Chaturthi is celebrated as Lord Ganesha’s birthday, the festival gained immense popularity when freedom fighter Lokmanya Tilak revived the observance of Ganesh Utsav in Maharashtra. His initiative transformed the festival into a ten-day celebration, fostering a sense of unity and national pride.
On the tenth day, devotees participate in a grand procession, known as Visarjana, where they carry their Ganesha idols, singing and dancing, to immerse them in water bodies. This marks the end of the ten-day celebration and symbolizes the return of Lord Ganesha to his abode in Kailash, the abode of Lord Shiva.
